Container with outer and inner sleeves

ABSTRACT

A container comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve operating to conceal at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is at least partially received within the outer sleeve. The inner and outer sleeves are movable relative to each other such that, when the outer sleeve and inner sleeve are moved relative to each other, various printed matter borne by the inner sleeve is revealed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/532,204 filed Jul. 2, 2015 entitled “Packaging Designs for Articles,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a container comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, and more particularly to a container with an outer sleeve that reveals at least a portion of the exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is removed from the outer sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Businesses use advertising and product packaging to differentiate their products and to entice consumers to purchase their products. Therefore, businesses are constantly searching for new ways for their advertisements to reach the consumer. Product packaging often includes advertisements for the specific product contained in the packaging, as well as a written description of the product, warnings, approvals, and other information regarding the nature and use of the product.

In addition, product packaging also creates a unique advertising space for one to advertise the products or services of others. Doing so can be a source of additional revenue.

However, especially for smaller products, there is limited space for such advertising and information. Furthermore, businesses may avoid placing advertising for the products of others on the exterior of their own product packaging, so that the advertisements do not confuse the customer when the customer is considering purchasing the product.

The present invention proposes a unique solution to the above problems.

In addition, product packaging comes in all shapes and sizes. Some products, such as cigarettes, candy, hardware products such as fasteners, and a myriad of other products, are sold in relatively large packages, so that the consumer and/or user of the product must carry more units of the product than he or she will consume or otherwise needs. These containers are often placed in the consumer's or user's pocket or carrying bag, where they are subject to movement. The lids on the containers are often easily opened through the consumer's or user's movements. Therefore, there is a need for more efficient and secure apparatus to store and carry products in.

Another problem solved by one aspect of the invention is mitigation of the health risks related to certain products, such as cigarettes and junk foods. For these types of products, some conscientious consumers try to limit the amount of such products carried on their person at any given time so that they will not be tempted to consume more than a certain amount. Nonetheless, manufacturers of such products still distribute them in large quantities so that consumers must carry the bulky packaging no matter how many units of the product they want to carry on their person. Therefore, there is a need for packaging that will tend to assist the user to moderate the amount of the product that the user consumes.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an embodiment, a container comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve operating to conceal at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is at least partially received within the outer sleeve, is disclosed. The inner and outer sleeves are movable relative to each other such that, when the outer sleeve an inner sleeve are slid apart, various indicia, such as text and/or graphical matter, borne by the inner sleeve is revealed.

The present invention, in but one form, provides a container comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve concealing at least a portion of the exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is disposed on the outer sleeve. However, when the outer sleeve is removed, partially or completely, all or a portion of the outer surface of the inner sleeve becomes exposed. The arrangement provides space on the product packaging for advertisements or other communications, as well as unique ways to display those advertisements or other communications.

The container itself provides a better-protected, easily disposable container for the consumer.

The details of this and other implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective assembled view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective disassembled view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective disassembled view thereof

FIG. 5A is a top perspective assembled view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 5C is a front elevational partially assembled view thereof

FIG. 5D is a right and/or left side elevational partially assembled view thereof

FIG. 6A is a top perspective assembled view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 6C is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 7A is a top perspective assembled view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7B is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 7C is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 8A is a top perspective assembled view of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8B is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

FIG. 9A is a top perspective assembled view of a sixth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9B is a top perspective partially assembled view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that accord with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to containers comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve concealing at least a portion of an exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is received within the outer sleeve, and further wherein the outer surface of the inner sleeve is revealed as the outer sleeve is removed from the inner sleeve, indicia such as text and/or graphics, residing on all or a portion of the inner sleeve. Accordingly, the apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional and/or generic symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having had the benefit of the description herein.

In this document, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any particular physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The term “plurality of” as used in connection with any object or action means two or more of such objects or actions. A claim element proceeded by the article “a” or “an” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus that includes the element.

FIGS. 1-9B illustrate exemplary forms of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to the particular structures, process steps or materials disclosed herein, but are intended to encompass equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts. Therefore, it is to be understood that terminology used herein is employed for the purpose of describing particular disclosed examples of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims to only those examples.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, in a first embodiment the invention relates to a container or package 11 comprising an inner sleeve 12 and an outer sleeve 32, wherein the inner sleeve 12 can be partially or completely slidingly, removably received within the outer sleeve 32.

The inner sleeve 12 may include a bottom end 15 and a top end 14. The top end 14 may remain closed (i.e., include or define an at least partially closed wall) and the bottom end 15 may define an opening 17. The inner sleeve 12 defines a hollow interior or cavity 20 bounded by an interior surface 19. The inner sleeve 12 also defines an exterior surface 13. The exterior surface 13 of inner sleeve 12 may or may not bear one or more areas of printed matter or other indicia 16 as discussed in more detail below. In the preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve 12 is triangular in cross-section. However, the inner sleeve 12 may be circular, rectangular, square, oval, polygonal, or of any shape.

The outer sleeve 32 may have a top end 35 and a bottom end 34. The interior surface 39 of the outer sleeve defines a cavity adapted to receive the inner sleeve 12. The bottom end 34 may remain closed (i.e., include or define an at least partially closed wall) and the top end 35 may define an opening 37, or vice versa, in order to permit insertion and removal of the inner sleeve 12 partially or completely thereinto and therefrom, respectively. The cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 39 of outer sleeve 32 is preferably shaped to correspond partially or completely to a cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 13 of inner sleeve 12, the inner surface 39 of outer sleeve 32 having a circumference that is preferably slightly larger than the circumference of the outer surface 19 of inner sleeve 12, so that the inner sleeve 12 can be inserted into the top end 35 of the outer sleeve 32. The outer sleeve 32 may have an interior surface 39 and an exterior surface 33. In the preferred embodiment, the outer sleeve 32 is triangular in cross-section. However, the outer sleeve 32 may be circular, rectangular, square, rounded, polygonal, or of any shape.

When the inner sleeve 12 is inserted into the outer sleeve 32, there may be a gap 40 between the exterior surface 19 of the inner sleeve 13 and the interior surface 39 of the outer sleeve 39. In another embodiment, inner and outer sleeves 12 and 32 are sized and shaped such that, when the inner sleeve 12 is inserted into the outer sleeve 32, the exterior surface 19 of the inner sleeve 12 may be frictionally but removably held to the interior surface 39 of the outer sleeve 39, so that the inner and outer sleeves 12 and 32 will stay in place relative to each other until a user pulls them apart.

In an embodiment, indicia are printed or otherwise deposited onto the exterior surface 33 of outer sleeve 32. Such indicia may be the brand name of, and information about, the product contained within the container 11, or may be any other information, advertising or otherwise.

When inner sleeve 12 is positioned in the fully inserted orientation or position shown in FIG. 1 within outer sleeve 32, indicia 16 is concealed from view (i.e., the indicia 16 on the exterior surface 13 of the inner sleeve 12 is covered by outer sleeve 32). As the inner sleeve 12 is removed from the outer sleeve 32, the indicia 16 on the inner sleeve 12 is uncovered, revealing indicia 16, which may perhaps be an advertising message or some other information. The concealment of indicia 16 while outer sleeve 32 is in place about inner sleeve 12 permits concealment of indicia 16 that might cause confusion or which the provider of the package may otherwise want to be concealed from the view of purchasers or other consumers until the outer and inner sleeves 12 and 32, respectively, are pulled apart.

The inner sleeve 12 and outer sleeve 32 can be fabricated of any material suitable for a container, such as, but not by way of limitation, paper, metal, plastic, opaque or translucent plastic or glass, or combinations thereof. The material for the inner sleeve 12 and outer sleeve 32 may be translucent, opaque, or a combination thereof. However, in the preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve 12 and the outer sleeve 32 are made of opaque paper products, such as cardboard.

The inner sleeve 12 and outer sleeve 32 can be of any size. However, in the preferred embodiment, the outer sleeve is approximately 5″ in length, and approximately 1⅛″ in width on the 3 sides. The inner sleeve is approximately 4 15/16″ in length and small enough to fit in the outer sleeve.

The opening 17 and hollow interior 20 of the inner sleeve 12 are designed to form a container or receptacle. In an embodiment, hollow interior 20 can hold small objects such as food items, cigarettes or the like. In an embodiment, package 11 is made small enough to limit the amount of units of product, such as food items or cigarettes, carried by the user, both to reduce the size of the package carried by the user and to limit the number of units of product the user can consume on a given occasion. However, the hollow interior 20 is not limited to holding food items or cigarettes, and as such can be sized and shaped to hold anything.

In an embodiment, the container 11 includes a strike plate on a surface of the container on which a match can be lit. Additionally, the container may be used to hold one or more matches (not shown).

In another embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D, a package 51 is disclosed which comprises an inner sleeve 52 which further comprises a raised collar or lip 60 adjacent the bottom 54 of the inner sleeve 52. This raised lip serves no other purpose than to provide a distinctive, attractive aesthetic appearance. The package depicted in this embodiment also includes an outer sleeve 72 having an upper end 73 which defines an opening 74 into which inner sleeve 52 may be inserted. Inner sleeve 52 includes an outer surface 53 onto which may be deposited indicia 56. When inner sleeve 52 is positioned in the fully inserted position shown in FIG. 5A, the indicia cannot be seen by ordinary visual inspection. However, when inner sleeve 53 is partially removed from its fully inserted position, such as that shown in FIGS. 5B-5D, indicia 56 is exposed, such that when a consumer or user of the package 51 separates the inner sleeve 52 from the outer sleeve 72, the indicia is exposed to the consumer or user.

In an illustrative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, a package 91 is disclosed which comprises an inner sleeve 92, and also includes an outer sleeve 112 having an upper end 113 which defines an opening 114 into which inner sleeve 92 may be inserted. Inner sleeve 92 includes an outer surface 93 onto which may be deposited one or more areas indicia 96. The outer sleeve 112 defines one or more unique indicia viewing apertures or windows 101. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6D feature a single viewing aperture 101, although any number of such apertures may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The aperture 101 may reveal a portion or portions of the exterior surface 93 of the inner sleeve 92 when the inner sleeve 92 is inserted into the outer sleeve 112. When inner sleeve 92 is positioned in the fully inserted position shown in FIG. 6A, only a portion of the indicia 96 can be seen by ordinary visual inspection. However, when inner sleeve 93 is partially removed from its fully inserted position, such as that shown in FIGS. 6B-6D, one or more further portions of indicia 96 are exposed, such that when a consumer or user of the package 91 separates the inner sleeve 92 from the outer sleeve 112, the indicia 96 is exposed to the consumer or user. The at least one aperture is adapted to permit viewing of the indicia when the inner sleeve is displaced from the fully inserted orientation such that the first indicia is placed in at least partial registry with the aperture

The aperture or apertures 101 may comprise one or more windows in the outer sleeve 112. The aperture or apertures 101 may further include translucent or transparent material covering the window on the outer sleeve 112. In the illustrative embodiment, the aperture 101 is rectangular. However, the aperture or apertures 101 may be circular, rectangular, square, rounded, polygonal, or of any shape or size, or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the exterior surface 93 of the inner sleeve 92 would then bear one or more indicia 96 on the exterior surface 93 of the inner sleeve 92. The indicia 96 would be visible through the aperture or apertures 101 in the outer sleeve 112. The indicia 96 may be sized and shaped to fit entirely within the aperture or apertures 101, or encompass an area larger than the area defined by the aperture 101.

It is to be understood that one or more viewing apertures 101 may be employed with any embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, such as the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-9.

The inner sleeve 92 may be inserted into the outer sleeve 112 in a fully inserted orientation as shown in FIGS. 1, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A and 9A. In some embodiments in which one or more viewing apertures 101 are employed, a portion of the indicia is visible through the aperture(s) only when the inner sleeve is inserted into the outer sleeve in the fully inserted orientation. In another embodiment, the printed material or other indicia is not visible at all when the inner sleeve is inserted into the outer sleeve in the fully inserted orientation, but becomes exposed through the aperture(s) 101 when the outer sleeve and inner sleeve are moved relative to each other in such a manner as to align the indicia in registry with the aperture(s) 101, such as is shown in FIGS. 6B, 6C, 7B and 7B. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, two or more panels or areas of indicia may be disposed upon the outer surface of the inner sleeve. In this way, in certain embodiments, plural printed matter or other indicia may be displayed one by one depending upon the position of the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve.

The indicia may be provided as a single panel of indicia or successive, e.g., “animation,” slides. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, as one pulls the inner sleeve 92, the indicia panels 96A, 96B and 96C are displayed one by one through the aperture 101 on the outer sleeve 112. Thus, when the printed material or other indicia 96 are displayed as successive slides, the movement of the inner sleeve 92 through the outer sleeve 112 provides the illusion of animation, or at least permits the display of successive, different, printed matter or other indicia.

In an illustrative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the outer sleeve 152 defines one or more apertures 141 and a raised color or lip 140. As previously stated in connection with embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5D, raised lip 140 serves no other purpose than to provide a particular ornamental appearance. In addition, the sloping upper edges of outer sleeve 132 and raised lip 140 in FIGS. 7A-7C, as well the sloping edges shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, serve no purpose other than to create a particular appearance. Still further, the cross-sectional shapes of the various exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings are merely ornamental in nature.

The outer sleeve 152 includes an upper end 153 that defines an opening 154 into which inner sleeve 132 may be received. Interestingly 132 defines an upper end 134.

In an illustrative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the inner sleeve 172 and outer sleeve 192 are hexagonal in cross-section. In an illustrative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the inner sleeve 212 and outer sleeve 232 are rectangular in cross-section. However, the inner sleeve 12, 52, 92, 132, 172, 212 and the outer sleeve 32, 72, 112, 142, 192, 232 may be of any shape, such as circular, rectangular, square, oval, polygonal, or any shape, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the inner sleeve 12, 52, 92, 132, 172, 212 and outer sleeve 32, 72, 112, 142, 192, 232 may be the same shape as each other, which is preferred, or may be different shapes.

Any number of indicia panels and apertures may be employed on any given package of the embodiments of the invention. Likewise, apertures may be provided in more than one side of the package. The embodiments shown herein that feature viewing apertures only show such apertures defined by a single side of the package.

The inner sleeve may be placed into a partially inserted orientation, such as that shown in FIGS. 1, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6B, 6C, 7B, 7C, 8B and 9B. In an embodiment, the inner and outer sleeves may also be completely separable from each other, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the implementations of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-9, the inner and outer sleeves are also preferably completely separable from each other, although structure (not shown) may be provided in connection with any of the embodiments disclosed herein to retain the inner and outer sleeves in contact with each other but provide access to the interior of the inner sleeve to permit removal of product therefrom by the user.

It is to be appreciated that the terms “printed material” or “indicia” can include alphanumeric characters, a single character, multiple characters, non alpha-numeric characters, graphical matter such as signs, images, logos, artwork and/or any graphical matter whatsoever, and may even including three-dimensional matter, i.e., matter having width, length and height. The terms “printed material” or “indicia” can include advertising matter, political or other speech, motivational messages, or any other form of communication.

The indicia or printed matter may be placed or deposited on the inner sleeve by any means, such as by printing, spraying, hand application, or any other way in which visible indicia are caused to appear thereon.

The use of an inner sleeve permits the selective concealment of all or a portion of the indicia printed thereon from ordinary visual inspection when the inner sleeve is received within the outer sleeve, depending upon whether a viewing aperture is employed in the particular embodiment.

Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments of the present invention. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause or result in such benefits, advantages, or solutions to become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve; the inner sleeve comprising a top, a bottom, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; the interior surface of the inner sleeve defining a cavity; a first indicia deposited on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the inner sleeve; the outer sleeve comprising a top, a bottom, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the bottom of the outer sleeve including an at least partially closed wall; the interior surface of the outer sleeve defining a cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the inner sleeve; the first indicia being concealed from inspection by the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in a fully inserted orientation within the outer sleeve; the first indicia being visible to inspection only when the inner sleeve is displaced from the fully inserted orientation.
 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inner sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve defines at least one aperture adapted to permit viewing of the first indicia when the inner sleeve is displaced from the fully inserted orientation such that the first indicia is placed in at least partial registry with the aperture.
 5. The container according to claim 1, further comprising an aperture defined by the outer sleeve which permits viewing of a portion of the exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is inserted within the outer sleeve, the aperture being positioned on the outer sleeve in such a way that the indicia is not visible through the aperture when the inner sleeve is in the fully inserted orientation.
 6. The container according to claim 5, further comprising second indicia deposited on the outer surface of the inner sleeve, wherein the second indicia is only visible through the aperture when the inner sleeve is not in the fully inserted orientation.
 7. The container according to claim 1, further comprising second indicia deposited on the outer surface of the inner sleeve, wherein the second indicia is only visible when the inner sleeve is not in the fully inserted orientation.
 8. A container, comprising: an inner sleeve adapted to hold one or more units of one or more products; an outer sleeve adapted to receive at least a portion of the inner sleeve; the inner sleeve bearing a first indicia; the first indicia being concealed from inspection by the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in a fully inserted orientation within the outer sleeve; the first indicia being visible to inspection only when the inner sleeve is displaced from the fully inserted orientation.
 9. The container according to claim 8, further comprising: second indicia deposited onto the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the second indicia being concealed from inspection by the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in a fully inserted orientation within the outer sleeve; the second indicia being visible to inspection only when the inner sleeve is displaced from the fully inserted orientation and the first indicia is not concealed by the outer sleeve.
 10. The container according to claim 8, further comprising: an aperture defined by the outer sleeve adapted to permit viewing of the first indicia when the inner sleeve is displaced from the fully inserted orientation such that the first indicia is placed in at least partial registry with the aperture, the aperture being positioned on the outer sleeve in such a way that the first indicia is not visible through the aperture when the inner sleeve is in the fully inserted orientation.
 11. A container, comprising: an inner sleeve adapted to hold one or more units of one or more products; an outer sleeve adapted to receive at least a portion of the inner sleeve; an outer surface of the inner sleeve bearing a first indicia; an aperture defined by the outer sleeve which permits viewing of a portion of the exterior surface of the inner sleeve when the inner sleeve is inserted within the outer sleeve, the aperture being positioned on the outer sleeve in such a way that the indicia is visible through the aperture when the inner sleeve is in a fully inserted orientation within the outer sleeve.
 12. The container according to claim 11, further comprising second indicia deposited on the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the second indicia being placed in at least partial registry with the aperture only when the inner sleeve is not in the fully inserted orientation within the outer sleeve.
 13. The container according to claim 12, further comprising third indicia deposited on the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the third indicia being placed in at least partial registry with the aperture only when the inner sleeve is not in the fully inserted orientation within the outer sleeve and the second indicia is not concealed from view by the outer sleeve.
 14. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 15. The container according to claim 12, wherein the inner sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 16. The container according to claim 13, wherein the inner sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 17. The container according to claim 14, wherein the outer sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 18. The container according to claim 15, wherein the outer sleeve has a triangular cross-section.
 19. The container according to claim 16, wherein the outer sleeve has a triangular cross-section. 